Last Flag Flying Page #4

---

pulling triggers, killing gooks.

Larry said his dad wound up

doing brig time behind it.

Yeah, that's all

in the past now.

What do you know about that?

Sounded like he

f***ed some dudes up.

Or some dudes f***ed him up.

Are you them dudes?

What exactly did he tell you?

Only that

some bad sh*t went down.

I was Larry's

best friend, all right?

So no one else knew

anything about it.

So you were with him

during the ambush?

Ambush?

The ambush. The ambush

and the firefight, they said.

Okay.

- Okay?

- Okay? What the f*** is that, okay?

If that's what

they're saying it was,

then that's what it was.

Hey. Come on,

you're his friend.

You were there, right?

What happened?

Come on, kid,

don't stonewall us.

He ain't looking at ya.

Come on, it's just us,

marine to marine.

Jarhead to jarhead.

It was f***ed.

Me and Sheppard

and three other guys

were all day humping

school supplies.

We had tablets,

pencils, new books.

It was our last run.

Anyway, we was always stopping

at this little store

we called Abdul's Haji Mart.

We'd have Haji Cokes.

It was my turn to make the run,

but Sheppard said

he'd do it, so he goes

and we're bullshitting

and this raghead comes up,

shouts out...

"Allah Akbar" --

Whatever the f***--

"God is great."

Puts a cap in Shep's head.

Jesus.

What happened next?

Sh*t, man, we went off.

Lit 'em all up.

The raghead, Abdul,

damn near whole f***in' hood.

Carried Larry back

to the Hummer and went home.

You know, the kid's supposed

to get the Bronze Star

behind this.

Yeah.

He'll get the star.

The more stars

the better, right?

- Yeah.

- Right.

Okay...

We can't tell him about this.

- We can't?

- No.

Let him have his Bronze Star.

- Sh*t.

- Let him have his burial at Arlington

with full honors.

Let him have his hero.

Lord knows the man

ain't had nothing but pain

- in his life lately.

- In other words,

let him have the lie.

Think about it, Sal.

What's more important?

I don't know.

But it's never the lie.

Sal...

Sal.

I'm sorry, sir, but there's

always a sound reason

for my recommendations.

Sal, he doesn't have

a face anymore.

You got to be a man now.

Hey, mister.

Hey, Sal.

How did this boy wind up dead?

I beg your pardon?

I think it's

a pretty simple question.

What happened?

The lance corporal

acquitted himself

with dignity and honor,

and he died a hero.

Yeah, but I mean, they're...

they're all heroes, ain't they?

- That they are, sir.

- Yeah. All heroes.

No question.

How did it happen that this boy

was shot in the back

of the head like a f***ing dog?

He was a brave marine,

credit to the corps,

and he served his country well.

Yes, he did.

So did we all.

Every one of us here.

And we'd do it again

if we had the chance.

What's going on, Sal?

I don't know.

That's-that's why I'm asking.

Shouldn't we be making

funeral arrangements?

Isn't that why we're here?

One second.

Now, were you there

when this happened?

No, I wasn't.

So, where were you?

With all due respect, sir,

that is none of your business.

Oh.

Oh, I see.

With all due respect...

Doc ought to be able to talk

to somebody who was there.

You weren't.

All right.

Were you?

Yes, sir, I was there.

Very well.

Lance Corporal Washington,

tell them what happened.

So, where we at

with all of this?

Pretty much

where we were before.

Doc wants his son's face back.

Can't blame him for that.

Called my wife.

I'm going home.

I'll be taking the bus.

So you're quittin'?

Quittin' what?

Why don't we find out?

So, Doc, what, uh,

what are we gonna do here?

I can't bury him at Arlington.

He qualifies

and he deserves that honor.

Here.

This is what he looked like.

Can I see it?

- Handsome boy.

- Wow. Yeah.

High school girls

were crazy about him.

My handsome boy.

I'm taking Larry home.

Sir, I can assure you

that is a bad decision

and you will come to regret it.

Sir, sir, sir, sir.

Please stop. Sir, sir.

The marines will transport

the body for you,

at no cost to you,

anywhere you choose.

Sir, sir...

Sir, stop.

I cannot

legally release

the lance corporal's body

to anyone,

except a licensed mortician.

Or a clergyman.

Isn't that so, Colonel?

Correct.

Well...

it looks like...

...that will be me.

Lads.

Here we go.

Yeah. There.

Not gonna fit.

How you gonna get him home now?

What you gonna do, Sal,

strap the coffin

to the roof of your car?

We could do that.

Just need a little help

lifting it up, huh?

Maybe we can get that kid

with the f***ed-up ear.

Don't be ridiculous.

Why not?

You know a better way to be?

You wish

you could be ridiculous,

but it's too late now.

Doc, you've got to let the

government transport the body.

I mean, it's the kind of thing

they're good at.

I-I don't like the government

right now.

Well, you don't have to.

I don't trust it anymore.

Hey, you know what,

we could rent a truck.

You know what, let's do that.

Uh, you take the car.

We'll stay here.

- Go find a truck.

- All right.

And pay for it out of that.

One truck, comin' up.

I'm coming with you, Sal.

You can drop me

at the bus station.

I think I got to be getting

back home now, Doc.

I understand, Mueller.

I'm sorry I dragged you

all the way up here.

I really thought I could be

of some help to you, you know.

I mean, I thought

we were going to a funeral.

We are going to a funeral--

Just looks like it's gonna take

a little longer to get there.

It's okay.

I'm just glad I got a chance

to... see you again.

I'm very happy

I got to see you again, Doc.

God bless you, Doc.

Keep you in my prayers.

And bless you, too, lad.

Let me ask you something,

man-to-man, hmm?

You ever wonder...

what would've happened,

way back then, if we hadn't...

Doc wouldn't have ended up

doing two years in the brig,

that's for sure.

And you and me, we...

wouldn't had to seen

what we did.

And what was that?

Are you shittin' me?

You tellin' me

you don't remember?

I remember a lot of sh*t.

What are you talking about?

A certain platoon buddy

getting shot,

writhing around

on the ground dying,

with nothing to give him

to ease his pain

'cause we had already taken

all the morphine.

God rest his soul.

There wasn't nothin'

we could do at that point.

And we did nothin'.

And sometimes you got to do

a little more.

I have a van

that would work for you.

- All right.

- But I think you might be happier

with a truck that's got

a hydraulic tail lift.

Oh.

Hydraulic lift.

I like that, huh?

What will you be hauling?

Oh, you know, a truck

with a lift will handle it.

Will you be dropping it off

back here

or at another location?

Uh...

Don't you know?

No, I guess

I'll be dropping it off here.

And when will that be?

What you lookin' at me for?

I don't know. How many days

would it...?

You don't know how long

you're going to need it?

No, I don't know

how long I'll need it.

Give me a week.

Oh, yeah.

A week, he says.

Mueller, come on.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes